Residents Choose to Sell Gold on the Side of Senen Road, Quick Cash Without Questioning Receipts

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Onah (40), a resident of Tebing Tinggi, Tanah Abang, was seen clutching a small plastic bag containing gold jewellery that she had kept for a long time. Her steps halted on the side of Senen III Road, Central Jakarta, right on the pavement bustling daily with vehicles and pedestrians. She did not head to the gold shops inside Senen Market. Instead, Onah chose to sit in front of a simple stall by the roadside. Her reason was straightforward: she needed cash quickly. “If I go to the shops, it’s complicated with lots of requirements. Sometimes we just want to sell quickly, but they ask for documents, receipts, purchase cards; if you don’t have them, they might reject it outright,” said Onah when met by Kompas.com on Tuesday (14/4/2026). There were no lengthy procedures. No layered questions about the origin of the gold. Not even an obligation to bring a purchase receipt. “If I have to go back and forth or wait a long time, it’s a hassle. Here, the process is quick: just weigh it, test it, and then they give the price right away,” said Onah. For Onah, the price difference was not the main issue. She realised that gold shops sometimes offered higher prices. However, experience showed that shops often deducted fees or even refused gold if documents were incomplete. “There will definitely be a price difference; sometimes shops can offer more. But those shops like to deduct this and that, especially if there’s no paperwork. Sometimes it’s not accepted at all,” she said. “The important thing is that it’s quick and hassle-free. If I need money urgently, a slight price difference isn’t a problem,” she added. A similar story came from Yaini (35), a resident of the Senen area. She admitted to having sold gold at the roadside stall twice already. The jewellery she brought was not gold bars or new items, but small things that were no longer usable—broken bracelets, dented rings, and earrings missing their pairs. “Sometimes earrings that are no longer used. Because fixing them would cost money,” said Yaini. Initially, she was hesitant to transact on the roadside. But her doubts lessened after seeing many people doing the same. “At first, I was scared, since it’s on the street. But I see lots of people transacting here. The traders stay in the same spot, so I trust them,” said Yaini.